No decision on direct procurement by FCI: Thomas

The Centre today said no decision has been taken by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure food grains directly from farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

The Centre today said no decision has been taken by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to procure food grains directly from farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

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"No such decision has been taken by FCI to procure food grains directly from farmers in these states," food minister KV Thomas said in the Lok Sabha.

In Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan procurement is made by state agencies through commission agents - arthias - in accordance with the statutory provisions of the relevant agricultural produce marketing acts of the states, he said.

In the lok sabha Akali Dal member Harsimrat Kaur Badal attacked the government for 'repeatedly' coming up with plans to procure food grains directly from the farmer and make cheque payments.

"Are the 500 inspectors in a position to do the job of 22,000 arhthias in a more effective and efficient manner?" Badal asked and added that farmers were not getting MSP for their produce.

Thomas said the state governments of Punjab and Haryana have to find out a genuine mechanism to ensure farmers got the MSP.